Ana on the Edge

Fall 2020: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

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Synopsis

When up-and-coming ice skater Ana learns she’ll be portraying a princess in her new program, she’s not thrilled. How can she convincingly skate as ladylike royalty when she doesn’t always feel like a girl?

There’s a lot riding on Ana’s success next season, and the pressure only rises once Ana discovers she’ll be changing training centers and even working with a famous choreographer. Money has always been tight due to Ana’s single-parent home-life. That’s why she is reluctant to voice her concerns about the creative direction her choreographer takes with her latest program—even though she has always preferred simple leggings to glittery dresses.

When Ana is offered the chance to assist with her new rink’s beginning skating classes in exchange for free ice-time, she gladly accepts. She’s eager to help her mom with the bills—better yet, it’s a distraction from her princess program.

Then Hayden, a beginner in one of her classes, mistakes Ana for a boy, and Ana decides not to correct him. Hayden is funny and easy to talk to, and Ana soon finds herself settling into a comfortable, boyish identity whenever he’s around. But as their friendship develops, and with the new skating season fast approaching, Ana quickly realizes it’s not easy to juggle two different identities on one slippery sheet of ice. Ultimately, she’ll have to make a choice: come out and risk disappointing everyone who’s counting on her or stay the course and go for gold, pretending to be someone she’s not.

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